A crocodile swallowed a girl in Indonesia as her father looked on helplessly.

District official Victor Mado Waton says the 10-year-old girl was searching for turtles with her father and brother in East Nusatenggara province when a giant saltwater crocodile sprang from a river and pulled her in.

Waton said today that villagers found pieces of her clothing several hours later but there was no sign of her body.

Waton said the girl's father was a few yards away when the crocodile attacked on Thursday but there was nothing he could do.

Last month, a boy was killed by a crocodile in the same river.

Villagers living near the river have reported a loss of livestock in recent weeks as well.

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